Only 90 minutes from Christchurch, the alpine spa village of Hanmer Springs is a haven for both relaxation and adventure. For more than a century, visitors have sought the rejuvenating tonic of this beautiful village with its fresh mountain air and therapeutic hot pools.
Hanmer Forest Park is a mecca for walking, cycling and photography! The forest contains a wide range of forest types, which makes for a variety of opportunities.
Hanmer Forest Park covers some 5,000 hectares to the north and east of Hanmer Springs township and is easily reached via a short walk. A good place to start is the Woodland Reserve, approximately 1 km to the east of the town along Jollies Pass Road.
Set the camera down low with a wide-angle lens to create perspective and accentuate the impression that the trees are climbing to a common point in the sky.
‘Sun-stars’ are caused by light diffraction and are best achieved by stopping down your lense to at or near its maximum aperture (in this example, f22). The exact effect you'll achieve is highly dependent on the make-up of your lense, in particular the number of aperture blades and their shape. Experimentation is the key to getting good results.
NPK_0496 1/15 sec at f/22, ISO200
The iconic entrance to Hanmer Springs. The historic Waiau Ferry Bridge opened in 1887 and is a popular shot for the avid photographer.
The Waiau Ferry Bridge is located on State Highway 7A, after the turn-off from State Highway 7 to Hanmer Springs. This image was taken in a small layby area around 500 m north of the bridge. Hanmer Springs village is 8 km further on.
This image was taken hand-held (no tripod) in the latter part of a balmy summer’s afternoon, with the sun towards the west. A polariser filter assisted with darkening the blues in the sky. Using a 50mm focal length (as set on your lense or zoom switch/dial), a shutter speed of at least 1/50th second is fine for hand-held photography. The longer the focal length, the faster the shutter speed required
1/80 sec at f/7.1, ISO160, polariser filter
Check out Daniel Murray's picks for top Christchurch photo locations.
Daniel Murray shares his secrets on where to capture great shots in the Aoraki/Mount Cook Mackenzie Region.
Daniel Murray shares his highlights and top photo locations in Arthur's Pass and the Selwyn District.
With so much to squeeze into a day, you'll have to stay longer. Discover our insider tips to maximise your time in Hanmer Springs.
